Camper insurance typically costs between $150 and $300 per year for basic coverage on a travel trailer, and $400 to $800 per year for a motorhome, though your actual price depends on what you own, how you use it, and where you live.
The price you pay reflects the replacement cost of your camper, the type of coverage you choose, and how much risk an insurer thinks you represent. A small travel trailer insured for liability only costs far less than a luxury fifth wheel with full coverage. Your driving history, the camper's age, and whether you live in a state prone to theft or weather damage all move the needle on your quote.
Because camper insurance is not required by law the way car insurance is, you have real choices about what to buy. Understanding what each type of coverage does — and what it costs — helps you decide what protection makes sense for your situation and budget.
Key Takeaways
- Basic liability coverage for a camper costs less than full coverage, but covers only damage you cause to someone else's property or injuries you cause to another person.
- Full coverage (collision, comprehensive, and liability together) protects your own camper but costs significantly more and is usually required if you financed the purchase.
- Travel trailers and fifth wheels typically cost less to insure than motorhomes because they are towed rather than driven.
- Your age, driving record, the camper's value, and your location all affect your quote, so getting quotes from multiple insurers is the only way to know your actual price.
- Discounts for bundling with your home or auto policy, paying in full, or taking a safety course can reduce your annual premium by 10 to 25 percent.
How Coverage Type Changes Your Cost
Liability coverage is the cheapest option and the only coverage most states require if you tow a trailer on public roads. It pays for injuries or property damage you cause to someone else — for example, if your camper's awning falls and injures a neighbor, or your trailer's brake failure causes a collision. Liability-only coverage on a travel trailer might run $100 to $200 per year.
Collision and comprehensive coverage protect your own camper. Collision covers damage from accidents, rollovers, or hitting an object. Comprehensive covers theft, weather, vandalism, and animal damage. Together, these add $200 to $400 or more per year to your premium, depending on your camper's value and your deductible (usually $500 or $1,000). A motorhome with full coverage often costs $600 to $1,200 annually because motorhomes are worth more and cost more to repair.
If you financed your camper through a loan or lease, the lender requires you to carry collision and comprehensive coverage until the debt is paid off. If you own it outright, you decide whether the extra cost is worth the protection.
What Your Camper Type and Age Mean for Price
Travel trailers and fifth wheels are cheaper to insure than motorhomes because they are towed, not driven. An insurer sees less risk of operator error and lower repair costs. A basic travel trailer might cost $150 to $300 per year for liability and comprehensive; a comparable motorhome could run $500 to $900.
Older campers cost less to insure because their replacement value is lower. A 15-year-old travel trailer might have a replacement cost of $8,000 to $12,000, while a new one of the same size could be $25,000 to $35,000. That difference directly lowers your collision and comprehensive premiums. However, older campers may be harder to find coverage for, and some insurers decline to insure campers over a certain age.
The camper's size and features also matter. A basic travel trailer with minimal systems costs less than a luxury fifth wheel with slide-outs, high-end appliances, and expensive plumbing. Insurers base collision and comprehensive rates partly on repair costs, so a camper that is expensive to fix will have a higher premium.
How Your Personal Factors Affect Your Quote
Insurers look at your age and driving history the same way they do for car insurance. A driver under 25 or over 75 typically pays more. A recent accident or traffic violation raises your rate. Some insurers also consider your credit score, though this varies by state and company.
Where you live matters too. States with high rates of theft, weather damage, or uninsured drivers see higher premiums across the board. If you live in an area prone to hail, flooding, or hurricanes, your comprehensive coverage will cost more. Urban areas often have higher theft rates than rural ones, which can increase your premium.
How you use your camper also affects price. If you tow your trailer only occasionally and store it at home most of the year, you may pay less than someone who lives in their motorhome full-time or tows across the country regularly. Some insurers offer lower rates for seasonal use or limited-mileage policies.
Discounts That Lower Your Premium
Most camper insurers offer discounts if you bundle your camper policy with your home or auto insurance — typically 10 to 25 percent off. Paying your annual premium in full rather than in monthly installments often saves you 5 to 10 percent. Taking a defensive driving course or a boating/RV safety course can earn you another 5 to 15 percent discount with many insurers.
Some companies discount if your camper has safety features like an alarm system, GPS tracking, or an anti-theft device. Others offer discounts for good credit, a clean driving record, or being a member of an RV club like the Good Sam Club or Family Motor Coach Association.
Ask each insurer what discounts they offer before you buy. The difference between one company's base rate and another's, after discounts, can be $100 to $300 per year on the same camper.
Getting an Accurate Quote for Your Situation
To get a real price, you need to contact insurers directly with details about your specific camper and how you plan to use it. Have ready: the camper's year, make, model, and current value; your age and driving history; your home address; and whether you want liability only or full coverage.
Major insurers that offer camper coverage include State Farm, Geico, Progressive, NAPA, Good Sam Insurance, and Nationwide, though availability varies by state. Smaller regional insurers and RV-specific companies may also serve your area. Getting quotes from at least three companies takes an hour or two and can reveal significant price differences.
When you compare quotes, make sure each one is for the same coverage limits and deductible. A quote for $200 per year with a $1,000 deductible is not the same as one for $250 with a $500 deductible. Write down what each quote includes so you can compare apples to apples.
What Happens If You Do Not Insure Your Camper
If you own your camper outright and do not tow it on public roads, you are not legally required to carry insurance in most states. However, if you tow it on a public road, most states require at least liability coverage — the same way they require it for cars. Towing without it can result in a fine and suspension of your driver's license.
Even if you are not required to carry coverage, liability-only insurance is inexpensive and protects you from a lawsuit if you cause injury or damage to someone else. If you financed your camper, your lender requires full coverage, and you must maintain it or risk losing the camper to repossession.
If your camper is damaged or stolen and you have no insurance, you bear the entire cost of repair or replacement. For most people, that risk is not worth the savings of skipping insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my auto insurance cover my camper?
No. Your car insurance does not cover a camper you tow, and it does not cover a motorhome you drive. You need a separate camper insurance policy. However, your auto policy may cover liability if your tow vehicle causes an accident while towing — but the camper itself is not protected. Check with your auto insurer to confirm what is and is not covered.
Can I insure a camper I do not own yet?
Most insurers require you to own the camper or have a purchase agreement in place before they will quote or bind a policy. If you are shopping for a camper, you can get quotes based on the year, make, and model you are considering, but you cannot set up coverage until you own it or have signed a purchase contract.
What is the difference between actual cash value and replacement cost coverage?
Actual cash value pays what your camper is worth at the time of loss, minus depreciation. Replacement cost pays what it would cost to replace it with a new one of the same kind. Replacement cost coverage costs more but pays out more if your camper is totaled. Most camper policies offer actual cash value; replacement cost is usually an add-on.
Do I need full coverage if my camper is paid off?
No, you are not required to carry collision and comprehensive coverage if you own your camper outright. However, if your camper is damaged or stolen, you will have to pay for repairs or replacement yourself. Whether full coverage is worth the cost depends on your camper's value, your emergency savings, and how much risk you are comfortable taking.
Will my rate go up if I file a claim?
Yes, most insurers raise your rate after you file a claim, though the increase varies by company and the type of claim. A comprehensive claim (theft or weather damage) often results in a smaller rate increase than a collision claim. Some insurers offer accident forgiveness or claim-free discounts that can offset the increase. Ask about these options when you get your quote.